Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Lorisco
Why are Bubinga and Purpleheart no longer used in neck laminates? That is what the Smith site indicates?
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Don't need them! PH was used as a temp. experiment on the BMT's back in 1992/93. When the wood was used up, I decided not to continue with it.
Bubinga is sister to Shedua, both Guibourtia's. Like related Maples or Walnuts.. same family, different color. Morado and PH are both different species but all 4 of the woods mentioned have similar properties as far as neck strip reinforcements.
There are pluses and minuses with all of the above woods. This ranges from finish compatability to inherent defects of the species. The defects, you never really see because we cut around them and use only clean pieces.
The most defects and lowest yeild of usage vs purchased stock is the Morado. Slightly stiffer then the others. Morado is oily though and is difficuly to use for Oil finishes. It's great for fingerboards though as it has its own oil in it. PH is almost as hard as Morado but bends slightly easier. This is not a big problem but when we had the PH in stock we had to cut around many tiny pin knots in the wood cutting my yeild in half.
Bubinga is usually good clean wood but I have gotten some shipments that had loads of 'birth' defects. Big trees fall harded I guess. In high winds they split internally as well known as wind shake. This is less common in the Shedua that I have seen. Bubinga is sold in random widths and some are huge. I can get Shedua now (and have) in more manageble 4-7" sized lumber and with very good cutting yeild.
Shedua and Morado are brownish in tinge and warm to look at. Bubinga is a red brown color and not always blending in with its neighbors as well as the above mentioned woods. PH is just blinding and to my eye. Less warmth to it and I just never liked it, period.
So, the most user friendly of the 4 woods is.... Shedua. I even get some nice figured pieces mixed in the load for Top woods. When we started running out of Bubinga we started making necks with the unfigured Shedua we had in a pile sitting here for about 10 years. Then when the Bubinga had run out, we switched over totally for the Oiled models and the TNs which get Shedua. Only the Elites use Morado now but within a year or sos, out old stock will be all used up. At that point our 7 pc necks still in stock with Bubinga features (we make neck billets years in advance) will also get replaces with Shedua along with the Morado. The Shedua we have now is beautiful and aging nicely as well. I can get more if I need but I just bought about a 5-10 year supply depending on the model mix. I still have quite a bit of Morado for Bolt-on 5-pc Necks. I noticed today I have some 5pc BOs with Bubinga as well. The are well ages.. 5Ps anyone?
So, I use what I think works best and is not a big waste. Morado is good for only one of the two finishes we use. Shedua works for everything, it's available and we have it..
We have made excellent stable necks using all of the woods above. The reason for change is usually business and sometimes personal.
